Blackwell petitioning to end hike of sales tax

[gristy]

I signed up for the new google news service (link) - they send you an email with stories that match your search criteria. The article below was cited. Here's what's happening in Ohio:

- Repub Governor and legislature are promoting a sales tax increase to help balance the Ohio budget.
- Repub Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is working on an initiative to repeal the sales tax increase before it has even been implemented, stating "My goal is to bring fiscal discipline back to Ohio".
:wtf: This is an outstanding example of the rethuglican "white is black / black is white" type of lie: he uses the term "fiscal discipline" when describing his effort to reduce taxes thereby increasing the Ohio budget deficit. There is no indication in the article that he has made any proposal as to how he would balance the state budget.

Ohio's SOS is expected to run for Governor in 2006, and he understands that fiscal irresponsiblilty (i.e. cutting taxes) helps win the votes of the clueless, ESPECIALLY when you LIE by calling that action fiscally responsible.

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By JAMES DREW
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS - The sales tax increase backed by Gov. Bob Taft and the Republican-controlled legislature would be repealed under a campaign that GOP Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is launching.

Mr. Blackwell said yesterday that he will begin circulating a petition this weekend to repeal the tax increase through a voter initiative effort.

"We must do this now to get our state back on track," said Mr. Blackwell, citing a loss of 118,000 manufacturing jobs in Ohio from March, 2002 to March, 2003. "This will require immediate reform. My goal is to bring fiscal discipline back to Ohio, and to do so before our competitiveness and opportunity for growth is irreparably damaged."

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[Abe Linkman]

1. Sales tax is one of the most egregious, unfair (regressive) taxes

Even a STOPPED clock is right twice a day. Sales taxes should be rolled back everywhere to zero or near zero. To make up a budget shortfall, personal and corporate income tax rates should be increased as necessary.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. The sales tax is a form of flat tax which...

hurts those in the lower income brackets BIG TIME!!!

I would get rid of the sales tax and raise the taxes on the Ken Lays of the world and close the corporate loop holes!